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DISCOURSE 



ADDRESSED TO THE 



CONGREGATION AT BETHLEHEM, 

AT 7 O'CLOCK P. M. APRIL 15, 1841. 

IN COMMEMORATION OF THE DEPARTURE FROM THIS LIFE 

OF 

I 

LATE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 



BY 



'«■ 



Rev. J. G. HERMAN. 



EASTON, PA. 

PRINTED BY HETRICH & MAXWELL. 
1841. 



iS)2ss®wissao 



Text. — The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and 
plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep 
his anger forever. He has not dealt with us after our sins ; nor 
rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is 
high above the earth, so great is his mercy totvard them that fear 
him. ^s far as the east is from the west, so far hath He re- 
moved our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his 
children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For He knoweth 
our frame ; He remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his 
days are as grass : as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth : 
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone ; and the place there- 
of shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from 
everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his 
righteousness unto childern^s children; To such as keep his cove- 
nant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. 
— Ps. cm. V. 8 — 18. 

What, my Christian brethren, mean these tokens of sadness, 
so strikingly exhibited by the unwonted transactions of this day? 
Why are we gathered together at this hour of eventide in solemn 
meeting, giving evidence by the numbers thus collected, that a 
subject of general interest engrosses the minds of all ; a subject 
of such deep impox-t, as to engage the feelings and inducing grave 
reflections not only of that portion of the community, whose 
ripened age prompts to habitual seriousness, but of our very 
children and little ones ? Have we been summoned to the house 
of God, to humble ourselves under his mighty hand, because 
another* whelming flood has threatened and wrought destruc- 
tion, like that erst past, and still in fresh and sad remembrance ? 
No, brethren ! The hand of mercy stayed that deluge, the 
waters have subsided, our ark rests secure on dry land. And 
these sublime and solemn strains! appear to discourse of death, 

* The destructive freshet of January 8th, in reference to 
which sermons had been preached. 

t A portion of Mozart's Requiem was performed on the occa- 
sion, by the Philharmonic Society of Bethlehem. 



to proclaim in awful and soul-stirring peals the approacli of the 
day, when the trumpet shall sound, and the judge of the quick 
and dead shall be revealed to every eye in the majesty of his 
glory; they whisper, "come away!" they thunder forth, "arise, 
appear before the judgment seat of Christ!" 

Has then fell pestilence invaded our cherished homes, and 
striking with its deadly shafts our kindred, sundered those 
blessed and sacred ties, which bind in best affections, heart to 
heart ? Has the domestic hearth been desolated ; have families 
been made to mourn, by the removal of parent or child, 
brother or sister ? Alas ! these are events, to prepare for which 
both wisdom and religion admonish, since "man is born to die," 
and the irrevocable decree of the ever just and all-wise giver of 
life imprints the stamp of death on the descendants of Adam, at 
their very birth, as the penalty of sin. Nor would such a dis- 
pensation, however afflictive to the few individuals, whose hearts 
and eyes were thereby made to weep and bleed, call forth so 
general a participation in the solemn expression of sorrow, not 
limited to any particular family or community, nor confined to 
a single branch of the wide-spread tree, rooted upon and cover- 
ing the vast territory of these United States. 

No! from every section of the land we hear the voice of 
mourning; the North and the South, the East and tl\e West de- 
mand to be heard; all claim their right, to deposit their due 
share of affectionate remembrance at the sacred shine, where 
the nation, with one consent, erects a lasting monument to de- 
parted worth. Verily, every one of the six-and-twenty stars of 
that constellation, which in its union, shines so brightly on the 
political sky, shrouds its lustre in token of its deeply felt be- 
reavement; the escutcheon of each State and Territory is 
wreathed with cypress, and the sable weed; for each laments in the 
departure from this life of our late venerated President, William 
Henry Harrison, the death of a citizen belonging to each. 

Nay, even the untutored sons of the forest, that devoted race, 
whose intercourse with and even friendship towards their white 



brethren has too often proved their sad misfortune, although in 
times past they had just cause to dread his skill and energy in 
war, will learn, that they have lost a father, and a friend in peace. 

And my Christian brethren, it is for the purpose of commem- 
orating tliis event, so unlooked for and in its peculiar features, 
hitherto unknown in the annals of our country, since its estab- 
lishment as an independent and highly favored nation, that we 
are now convened. We deprecate the idea of debarring our- 
selves from a cordial and suitable participation in the solemni- 
ties called for by this dispensation, which however mournful in 
itself, may yet under the sanctifying influences of Him to whose 
supreme will we most reverently bow, eventuate in blessings, 
yielding the peaceable fruit of I'ighteousness to them who ai-e 
exercised thereby. For surely it behooves the Christian, whose 
very character as well as his hopes rest on that firm foundation, 
even the unchangeable power and wisdom, the immutable justice 
and mercy of God, to lefer both his individual leadings, and with 
equal propriety, events calculated to arrest general attention, 
to that Being, whose wisdom can never err and whose truth 
never wavers. And what place more lit for this exercise of 
Christian privilege, than that sanctuary where a gracious Lord 
condescends to meet his people, where the sincere seeker after 
truth acquires the knowledge of God, and of his holy will and 
ways, where the mourner's tears ai-e wi]KMl away by the hand of 
divine mercy, and where the souls of the true worsliippers may 
mount on wings of faith and soaring aloft, behold the unspeaka- 
ble excellency of Him, on whom their all depends. Hence it is 
that you, mj^Christian brethren, have come forward on this deepl y 
interesting occasion, to present yourselves before the Lord in his 
house, in the humble hope and with the fervent prayer, that this 
■dispensation may, through his grace, be sanctified to you and 
your children. 

Deeply impressed by a conviction, that such is your object in 
view, and under a solemn obligation to utter from this place no 
speech to minister to the vain glory of man, but tending solely 



to the glory of God and the good of souls, we shall carefully 
abstain from entering at length upon any eulogy of that eminent 
man, whose mortal part is now numbered with the dead, and 
whose spirit, we humbly trust, is gone to the bosom of that 
blessed Redeemer who has prepared a place for his faithful ser- 
vants in the mansions of eternal rest and unfading glory. 

Full of years, having almost attained to the age of three score 
and ten, meted out according to the inspired writer, as the al- 
lotted length of the pilgrim's path through mortal life, he has 
been gathered to his fathers. He has left far behind the perils 
and the sufferings of life, the multiplied cares and anxieties, 
necessarily attendant upon one, regarded with intense interest 
by so large a portion of his fellowmen; and under the overruling 
providence of God, raised to so high a dignity, and let us add, so 
harassing a responsibility. Few, if any, will deny him a just 
meed of praise for firmness and energy of character, honesty of 
purpose, and strict a,nd scrupulous faithfulness in the discharge 
of the various and often hazardous duties entrusted to him dur- 
ing his long life. The history of that life is on record ; its last 
page is closed. But on that last page, a Christian people delight 
to trace the lines of faith, hope and charity, those cardinal excel- 
lencies of our most holy faith, the splendor whereof illumes the 
path of the just, shining more and more unto the perfect day: 
that glorious and unceasing day of unsullied brilliancy, even 
then most bright, when the last glimmering of the lamp of mortal 
life terminates in the darkness of the grave. 

Now, my Christian brethren, whither, I ask, should a nation, 
duly appreciating the lesson taught by an event of such interest, 
turn ? where go for instruction in wisdom, peace and righteous- 
ness ? Blessed be he, who in his holy revelation has opened up 
to us a rich and never-failing source to satisfy the desire of the 
soul which would seek counsel at the mouth of God himself, and 
take his word for the only safe guide amidst human uncertainty 
and doubts. And to that blessed fountain of truth, to that sure 
testimony it is the privilege of him, who is favored to address 



you now, to direct your attention, with the fervent prayer that 
by divine grace and the unction of his spirit, the good seed may 
grow up and bear fruit even unto eternal life. 

You are aware that our text contains one of those most pre- 
cious declarations of God's mercy to man, to be exhibited freely, 
fully and forever; on this condition however, that a just sense 
of our unworthiness and acknowledgment of sin, followed by a 
desire after holiness, renders us fit objects for the exercise of 
this most blest divine attribute. The Psalm was penned by one 
after God's own heart; one, whom the goodness of his Lord had 
trained up from early youth, by various striking displays of 
high favor, to acquire a correct view and estimate of that loving- 
kindness of God, which is better than life. When he declares 
that " surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days 
of my life," it is not a supposition, nor even hope alone; it is the 
certainty of absolute assurance ; nor is it a false assurance, 
founded on vain presumption, but resting on the sure basis of 
those precious realities, the memory of which, ever present to 
his mind, accompanied him through the various scenes and trials 
of life, and causes him in the very commencement of our Psalm 
fervently and repeatedly to call upon his soul, to " blpss the T^ord 
and not forget all his benefits." And how deeply conscious 
was his pardoned soul of the crowning mercy, vouchsafed to 
him ! " who forgiveth all t^ine iniquities ; who healeth all thy 
diseases." Ah ! this, this is the great theme of his grateful 
praise and adoration, this the foundation of his strong confidence, 
this the protecting shield, under which his troubled soul found 
safety, this the voice, not of man or angel, but of the all-merciful 
Himself, speaking peace to his wounded, burdened, but contrite 

spirit. 

My Christian brethren, let it not be said, that the church of 
the new covenant is inferior to the old in knowledge, privileges 
or blessedness ; let not its members subject themselves to the 
reproach, that their faith is less strong, theii* love less ardent, 
their hope less lively, than David'=. He never beheld the glo- 



rious accomplishment of God's gracious promises, after thousands 
of years; he never fathomed the depth of divine mercy at the 
foot of the cross on Calvary, where from the bleeding Lamb of 
God, mercy's streams gushed forth in streams of sin-atoning 
blood. He could not say with the beloved disciple, " We love 
him because he first loved us :" nor with the blessed Apostle, 
that signal monument of adorable mercy, " Christ loved me and 
gave himself for me." He could not read his title clear to 
mansions above, through the merits of a Saviour, who, having 
sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high, now beckons 
to his followers, however groaning under the weight of this life's 
burdens, to be of good cheer, for that they also shall overcome, 
and be where their Redeemer is. And yet, with fervency of 
spirit he gives utterance to his happiness in his God, and from 
a heart overflowing with grateful love, exclaims : " Whom have 
1 in heaven but Thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire 
beside Thee !" Ah, should not then our lamp of faith burn 
brighter still ? our every throbbing pulse bean anthem of praise 
for redeeming love; and the anchor of our soul hold firmly 
to our rock of ages, Christ? 

Away thpTi, all distrust from my heart! Hush'd be every 
breath of murmuring against Him, whose thoughts are far above 
our thoughts, even as heaven is above the earth. And though 
He see fit to permit calamities, public or private, to befal, never 
let us forget that it is the father's hand chastening for good, the 
children whom he loves. Remember that though the boding 
clouds thicken around us, the all -pervading watchful eye of God, 
piercing through the thickest folds of that darksome drapery, is 
on us still. And though desolation sweep around and threaten 
to sap the very foundations of earth, even to the trembling of its 
everlasting hills, our hearts know that voice, which in the mo- 
ment of extreme danger says: "Peace, be still!" Ah, "He 
knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are dust:" and He 
ivill gather his children under the shadow of his wings, until the 
calamity be overpast. 



Nay, even through the gloom of death the eye of faith beholds 
the banner of divine love waving in undiminished splendor. 
Does the withering breath of that dread messenger pass over 
and touch with fatal certainty those best beloved by us and 
most esteemed ; is it our lot, to be among the mourners that go 
about the streets, because we have been the tearful witnesses of 
the loosing of the silver cord, the breaking of the golden bowl, 
and the departure of those most dear to us, to their long and 
final home, ah ! even through affection's flowing grief we hear 
the voice from heaven : " Blessed are the dead, who die in the 
Lord !" Or are the gradual decay of our own strength and 
health, the trembling of the keepers of the house, the darkening 
of the windows, the wintry hoar-frost on the brow, are they' the 
warning voice that bids us remember that summer is past, and 
that the time draws nigh, when the dust shall return to the earth 
as it was? we turn with humble confidence and calm resigna- 
tion to the fountain of life, who says : "Because I live, ye shall 
live also!" Oh then, let the whole nation, as one man, cling with 
firm assurance to that eternal truth and faithfulness of its covenant 
God, who never errs in his vast government ; adopting the ex- 
pressive language of the confiding heart : " Though He slay me, 
yet will I trust in him!" For this ensures to us a renewal, yea, 
an increase of the blessings of him, who in our text declares : 
" The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon 
them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's chil- 
dren, to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember 
his commandments to do them." 

O then, my Christian brethren, let this be our firm resolve, 
faithfully to do our part, to secure to our land that everlasting 
covenant-mercy of the God of our fathers ! Let us be patriots in 
the best sense of the word ! Let not party-strife turn the designed 
blessing into a curse ! 

We are one in the enjoyment of those inestimable civil 
blessings, with which a gracious God rewarded the honest and 
arduous struggle of our venerated ancestors for existence as a 



10 

free and happy people; we are one, as claiming an equal inter- 
est in the unbonnded'displays of divine favor, vouchsafed by the 
omnipotent Creator and Preserver, and the everglorious Re- 
deemer of the world. Then let us be one in love to God, and 
love to our neighbor; one, in carrying oat, by the aid of divine 
grace, the principles of our most holy faith ! O that the time 
were at hand, when every one that draws the breath of life within 
the borders of our blessed land, shall adorn the faith, Avhich we 
profess, by a true devotedness of heart to the Lord, and a truly 
Christian walk and conversation ! O that in every family an 
altar of the most High, a sanctuary of the living God, might in- 
vite the soul to worship God in spirit and in trutli; yea, would 
to God, that millennial blessings and glory miglit fill every por- 
tion of this extensive domain, and the people of these United 
States, without exception, claim the high title of a distinguished 
Christian people ! Ah, then would each, when summoned by 
death, depart in christian peace, full of joy and the hope of a 
glorious immortality ; and every beholder be ready to adopt the 
forcible language of Scripture : " Mark the perfect man, and 
behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace !" One 
word more, my brethren and I have done, that change awaits 
all of us. Does any one ask : " When will 7ny change come?" 
The answer is : " Thou, O Lord, knowest !" O then, by thy 
grace, prepare us all to meet Thee, our God, our Saviour and 
our Judge ! — Amen. 



11 

SELECTIONS FROM 



No. 1. 

To the departed souls give rest, Lord, eternal I'est 

And everlasting Glory to them vouchsafe. 

Thee Lord our hymns shall glorify, 

And thine shall be our sacrifice. 

Give ear unto our supplication, 

Before thy presence all flesh must appear. 

No. 2 

Day of judgment : day of wonders ! 

Hark ! the ti-umpets awful sound, 

Louder than a thousand thunders. 

Shakes the vast creation round. 

How the summons will the sinner's heart confound ; 

No. 3. 

At his call the dead awaken. 

Rise to life from earth and sea, 

All the powers of nature shaken, 

At his call prepare to flee. 

Careless sinner: what will then become of thee ? 

See the Judge our nature wearing 

Clothed in majesty divine ; 

Ye who love the Lord's appearing, 

Then shall say this God is mine, 

Gracious Saviour own me on that day as thine. 

No. 4. 

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of Sabaoth 
The Heavens and earth declare thy glory. 
Glory to thee in the highest. 

No. 5. 

Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, 
Glory be to thee in the highest. 

No. 6. 

Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world. 
Unto our souls grant peace and everlasting rest; 
And ceaseless glory to us vouchsafe, 
With all thy saints in glory everlasting. 

Amen. 



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